I just picked up my LR rig and it come in at 18lbs. That is gun, scope, and rings.

That's a lot of gun. Do you carry it anywhere to hunt?
I use my"heavy" rifle - 13.5 lbs - primarily to hunt long range 'chucks. It gets packed around in a Eberlestock day pack, but it goes a few miles each way, usually starting around 11,000' and ending up somewhere around 12,500' elevation.
At 53 years old, even this is getting a bit heavy, on top of the weight of the other shooting tools, lunch, and gore tex rain suit that goes along.